Island



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1`.

vR. J'. GILMORB av 0. A. DUNLAP.

FOUNTAIN.

' Patented Ma1.1.31,'1.896.

ANDREW l/GRANAMRHUTO-IJTIIaWASNINGTUNDS.

(No Model.)

. 2 'Shegts-Sheet 2. R. J. GILMORB 8v .0. A. DUNLAP.

FOUNTAIN.

No. 557,263. Patented Mar. 31; 1896.

(Zim

www M W l Mw im ma, 7M a GRNAMJHDTO-UTHQWASHI UNITED STATES lPATENTOFFICE.

ROBERT J. GILMORE AND CHARLES A. DUNLAP, OE PROVIDENCE, RIIODE ISLAND.

FOUNTAIN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 557,263, dated March31, 1896. Application filed September 8, 1894i Serial No. 522,426. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ROBERT J. GILMOR and CHARLES A. DUNLAP, citizens ofthe 1 ypresence of an attendant, it being simply United States, residingat Providence, in the 5 county of Providence and State of Rhode Island,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fountains; and wedo hereby de alare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such Io as will enable others skilled inthe art to which it appertains to make anduse the same, vreference beinghad to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures ofreference marked thereon, which form a I 5 part of this specification.

Our invention relates to fountains adapted and arranged to producevarious designs in the discharge-water issuing` from the fountain. Afountain of this class is shown and zo described in United States PatentNo. 469, 683, issued to Charles A. Dunlap March 1, 1892. The presentinvention, however, differs from said patented fountain in that thechanges or eifects are produced automatically at prede- 2 5 terminedintervals; and it consists, essentially, in the combination with aseries of suittably mounted and arranged discharge-orifices constitutingthe fountain proper and a main supply-pipe or connection of valves in-3o terposed between and communicating with the supply-pipe anddischarge-orifices and mechanism connected with thel valves for openingand closing them automatically.

It further consists in providing the foun- 3 5 tain with an electric orother lighting system for illuminating the same, combined with means forAcontrolling said light and producing colored effects automatically, allas will be more fully hereinafter set forth and 4o claimed.

By means of our invention the controlling mechanism of the fountain maybe adjusted or set so as to produce a series of continuously-repeateddifferent designs or effects au- 45 tomatically. The power or meansemployed for actuating said mechanism may be eifected through the mediumof a slowly iliowing stream of the discharge-water of the fountain. Thewater passed through the foun- 5o tain, in lieu of running to waste, maybe repeatedly reused by conducting it to a suitably-actuated force-pump.

The fountain does not require the constant necessary to turn on theWater when startin g the display andv subsequently shutting it off.

The device is comparatively simple and not liable to become inoperativeaccidentally. Moreover, its cost is not great when considered withrespect to the range of changes or variations which may be produced.

In thetwo accompanying sheets of drawings, illustrating the invention,Figure l is a partial plan view. Fig. 2 is a vertical central sectionalview taken longitudinally of the fountain and showing interiorly thearrangement ofthe several parts. Fig. 3, Sheet 2, is a horizontalsectional View taken on line a. x of Fig. 4. Fig. 4 is a partialsectional view, enlarged, taken through the center of the lower portionof the fountain-standard. Fig.' 5 is a transverse sectional view takenon line o o of Fig. 3, showing the device for tripping thevalve-operating mechanism. Fig. 6 is a plan View of the illuminating andshading mechanism. Fig. 7 is a side view of the same; and Fig. S is atransverse sectional view of the valve-casing", enlarged.

In this invention the series of independent tubular rings 2 3 4 5,provided with suitable discharge-orifices o2,constituting the fountainproper, are substantially as set forth in Patent N o. 469,683, beforereferred to. rlhe present fountain is provided with a hollow standard orframe l), having anenlarged base portion b', said standard being locatedat the center of a suitably-mounted ornamental basin, as h, arranged tocontain more or less of the water discharged from the fountain. To theupper portion of the standard is secured a suitably-shaped smaller basinor pan f, at the center of which latter is fixed a wide hoop or ring a2extending above the top of the basin f. The said ring is provided at thetop with the perforated annular ornamental shield or guard m. By thisarrangement it will be seen that the interior or chamber of the standardis practically isolated from the water filling y IOO a2 and m are unitedis secured an interiorlylocated cone-shaped ring or frame a arranged toform a support for the transparent or translucent concavo-convex platea. Vhile the said parts a c may be shaped as shown, it is clearlyobvious that other suitable forms can be employed. The several rings ofpipes 2, 3, 4 and 5, as well as the center pipe 1, are arranged aboveand in close proximity to the plate ct. The corresponding inlet-pipesleading to and com municatingwith said fountainrings pass downwardlythrough the frame d.

Vinto the interior of the standard, where they are arranged in arow andcommunicate with a hollow casting d, about to be described. This castingd is, as drawn, provided with a series of five horizontal inlet-valvesr2, one for each pipe. Each valve-stem extends outwardly through thecasting and is grooved or otherwise arranged to receive and be actuatedby a short arm 152 of the pivotally-mounted camlever if, a lever beingemployed for each valve. The casting is divided into a series ofchambers d3 (Z4, the former being the inletchamber communicatingdirectly with the main supply-pipe p. The other or discharge chamber (I4consists of five independent chambers, each communicating directly withits respective pipe leading to the fountain-rings. (See Fig. 8.) Thus itwill be seen that communication between the supply-pipe p and the saidinlet-pipes is effected only upon opening one or more of the inlet orcontrolling valves "lf2, As drawn, the pressure of water upon the valvesin chamber d3 serves to keep them seated when not in operation.

The main supply-pipe p passes upwardly through the base of basin 7L andis tapped into the casting cl. In order to prevent the waste ordischarged water from coming in contact with the pipe p, the basin isprovided with an enlarged vertical sleeve p extending above thewater-line, said sleeve forming a watertightjoint. (See Fig. 2.) Thewater from the basin escapes through a waste-pipe o, having asuitablestrainer or cap o located at the water-line.

The mechanism for automatically controlling the valves r2, dac., ismounted on a suitable bracket c secured to the interior of thestandard-base b. A horizontal cylinder or drum r is secured to a shaftr3 mounted to revolve in bearings formed in the bracket c, the saidcylinder being provided with a series of suitably-located projectinglugs or cams 7", arranged to form circular paths for the respectivelevers t'. At or about midway of the cylinder is located a ratchet-wheelk3, the same being fixed to the shaft. Rotary motion is imparted to thewheel, &c., through the medium of a spring-pawl 71:', jointed to thepivotally-mounted operating-lever 7c. The latter is counterweighted, asat t'2,and is yoked at its front end to a vertically-guided bucket orvessel e, arranged to be filled with water at predetermined intervals.Said bucket is provided with a self-closing bottom valve fu,

arranged tobe automatically opened upon its engagement with a suitablestop r, thereby causing the water to be quickly discharged.

In the drawings the bucket is represented as adapted to be lled withwaste water from the upper basin f, said water passing from the basinthrough the small pipe g, a valve g being located in the pipe forcontrolling the volume or flow of water used in the bucket. An openingb4 is formed in the standard l), through which access to the valves iseifected. In lieu of using waste water for filling the bucket water maybe taken direct from the main supply-pipe p through a branch pipe p2leading therefrom, said branch pipe being provided with acontrolling-valve g2, all as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. i.

The bucket e is jointed at its lower portion to the yoked end of theoperating-lever k, as before stated. At or near the top of the bucket islocated an overiiow pipe or spout e2, arranged with respect to thepivotallymounted tripping-lever e, the latter having a small pan orbasin e3 at one end and a counterweight e at the other. The lever isfurther provided with a short upwardly-extending tripping arm or dog c2,arranged to engage and support the operating-lever 7c, all as clearlyshown in Fig. 5. By means of the construction just described it will beapparent that after the elevated bucket is iilled with water theoverflow therefrom falling into the pan e3 Will soon depress thecorresponding end of the lever e4, thereby withdrawing the dog c2 fromthe lever k, thus freeing or tripping the latter. The water-filledbucket e then instantly drops to its limit, the valve fu at the sametime being opened by striking the stop o", thus causing the water to bequickly discharged. Vhile the operating-lever k is being depressedthrough the medium of the bucket, as stated, the cam-cylinder o' will berotated a distance corresponding to the angular movement of said leverby means of the ratchet-wheel and its pawl, thereby bringing one or moreof the several cam-lugs r into engagement with the free ends of thecorresponding levers t' and thus opening the respective valves o2 andallowing water to pass from chamber d3 into the thus opened inlet-pipescommunicating each with a discharge-ring at the top of the fountain.These valves, &c., remain open until a subsequent action of the bucketcauses the cylinder r to be further rotated, thereby opening one or moreof the previously-closed valves and closing one or more, as the case maybe, of the previously-open ones.

We would add that the counterweight 7a2 of lever 7o exceeds the weightof the empty bucket and its connections. Therefore the latterautomatically returns to its normal or elevated position (shown in Fig.2) after the water has escaped therefrom. In like manner thetripping-lever e4 is depressed by water falling into its pan c3 and is"automatically reset by the counterweight e6, an adjustable IOO IIO

stop e7, Fig. 5, serving to so arrest the lever that the relation of thedog or trip c2 to the lever lo may be maintained.

The manner of illuminating the fountain and means for automaticallychanging the color-shades may be described as follows:

Referring to Fig. 2,*it will be seen that an inverted reflector n islocated below the said concavo-convex plate a. The reiector, as drawn,is upturned and contains an incandescent lamp arranged to be lightedthrough the medium of an electric current passing through theconducting-Wires w w. (See also Figs. 6 and 7.) The reiiector isprovided with a series of independently movable color shields or shadesz z2 z3 attached to a corresponding number of pivotally-mounted arms us.The said shades maybe composed of mica, gelatin, or other suitabletransparent, translucent or semiopaque material. The shades, as drawn,are bent, each forming a portion of a circle. They are oppositelyarranged in pairs, so that when they are swung upwardly into position,as in use, they form approximately a semicircle, the adjacent edges ofeach pair meeting at the center of the fountain. To each of the saidarms as is jointed a downwardly-extendin g link u4,which in turn arejointed to vertically-guided bars or rods u', the latter being jointedto independent cam-levers u2. These levers 'a2 are arranged to beactuated by a series of cams u secured to the shaft r3 carrying thecam-drum r, before described. (See also Figs. 3 and 4).

Now assuming that the several pairs of shades are unlike in color, andthat the said cams -u are so set or arranged that the Working peripheryof each is, say, one-third of a circle, it follows that each pair ofcolor-shades will be swung into and maintained in position over the lampand its rei-lector, While more or less of the fountain designs are beingplayed during the corresponding angular movement of the drum, the latterbeing effected by the intermittent action of the bucket e and itsconnections. The said currentconducting Wires w are adapted to lead fromany suitable source or generator of electricity. If desired, the underside of the rim or flange of the upper basin f may be provided with aseries of lamps Z for illuminating the Water overiiowing from the basin,said lamps being adapted to be lighted electrically by the branchcurrent-conducting Wires w, as represented in Fig. 2.

While changes in the designs or effects produced by the water iiowingthrough the discharge outlets of the fountain may be made automaticallyat fixed intervals of time, such intermittent action can be readilyvaried by means of the valve g/, located in the small waste-pipe g--thatis to say, a full open valve Will produce comparatively rapid changesand a nearly-closed valve will cause the changes to be made much lessfrequently. The same suggestions also apply to the colorchangingmechanism.

VVe'may state that if desired the automatic devices may be renderedtemporarily inoperative at any time by simply closing the valve In suchcase all the valves 'U2 may be left open and the various designsproduced by manipulating the stop-valves located in the severalinlet-pipes communicating with the main discharge-pipes. These valvesmay be reached through said opening b4, formed in -the base-standard. Adoor or cover closes the opening.

ln lieu of making the interior chamber of the standard-base b' open tothe water it may be made water-tight or provided with a verticalpartition, thereby separating it into two chambers, one of which may beWater-tight, for containing the mechanisms or devices for controllingthe valves, color-shades, &c.

Ve do not limit our invention to the exact construction and arrangementof the mechanism represented by the drawings, since it is obvious thatwithout departing from the invention other suitable means may beemployed for controlling the water iiowing to the perforatedfountain-rings and also for actuating the color-shades. The fountain maybe made portable or semiportable and adapted to be set up and connectedin any suitable manner.

Ve would add that while our improved fountain is more particularlyadapted to be employed on grass-lawns or in conservatories, it may beused as a stage-fountain, thus forming an additional attraction inscenic eifects for theatrical representations, dac.

We claim as our inventionl. In a self-contained automatic fountain, thecombination with a series of independent inlet-pipes provided at theirupper ends with discharge-orifices constituting the fountain proper, ofa corresponding series of independent valves for controlling theadmission of water into said pipes, a main supply-pipe communicatingwith the several valve-chambers of said valves, intermittingly-rotatingmechanism through the action of which said valves are opened and closed,and means connected with said rotating mechanism capable of being madeoperative intermittingly through the medium of a slowly-flowing streamof water, substantially as described.

2. In a self-contained automatic fountain, the combination with aconvex-shaped transparent or translucent plate, as c, a series ofindependent inlet-pipes terminating at their upper ends indischarge-rings constituting the fountain proper located above saidplate, a corresponding series of independent valves communicatingl withsaid inletpipes connected with a suitable Water-supply, andintermittingly-operating mechanism for opening and closing said valvesthrough the medium of a slowly-flowing stream of water, of a suitablelamp or lighting device located below said plate a, a reflector mountedbelow the lamp arranged to throw light-rays upwardly through the plate conto the water is- IOO IIO

IZO

suing from said discharge-rings, a series of independently-movableshades capable of being interposed between said lamp and plate a, andmechanism for moving the shades into and out of action, substantially asdescribed.

In a self-contained automatic fountain, the combination of aseries ofindependent inlet-pipes provided at their upper ends withdischarge-orifices constituting the fountain proper, a correspondingseries of independent valves for controlling the admission of water intosaid pipes, a main supply-pipe communicating with the severalvalve-chambers of said valves, intermittingly-movable mechanism throughthe action of which said valves are opened and closed, means forcontrolling the action of said intermittingly movable mechanism, asuitably -located electric or other light for illuminating the waterissuing from said discharge-orifices, a series of independently-movableshades or color-plates, and automatically-actuated mechanism arranged tointerpose said shades between the said light and the said dischargeorifices at predetermined intervals, substantially as hereinbeforedescribed and for the purpose set forth.

4. In an automatic fountain, the combinationwith a series ofsuitably-arranged independent outlet or discharge pipes constituting thefountain proper, and a series of independent controlling valvescommunicating with said pipes, of mechanism for independently openin gand closing said valves at predetermined intervals, and a singlecontrolling device, actuated by a stream of slowlyflowing water, forgoverning the action of all the valves, whereby the water issuing fromthe fountain proper and constituting one design is not shut off untilthe next succeeding water design or effect is displayed, substantiallyas described.

5. In an automatic fountain, the device for automatically controllingthe outiiow of water therefrom, the same consisting of a series ofindependent valves, as @2,interposed between the main supply-pipe andthe series of independent discharge outlets constituting the fountainproper, a lever for actuating each valve, a series of cams controllingthe movement of said levers, and means for intermittingly operating saidcams, substantially as described.

6. In an automatic fountain, a series of independent valves forcontrolling the discharge or outflow of water, a corresponding series ofmovable cams,and suitably-mounted levers or connections located withrespect to said cams and valves, in combination with a ratchet-wheel andpawl-carrying lever for actuating said cams, a movable self-dischargingwater bucket or vessel, jointed to said pa\vlcarrying lever, adapted tobe made operative through the medium of Water flowing thereto and meansfor tripping or releasing the lever automatically, substantially ashereinbeforc Set forth.

In testimony whereof we have affixed our signatures in presence of twowitnesses.

ROBT. J. GILMORE. CHARLES A. DUNLAP. lVitnesses:

GEo. I-I. REMINGTON, FREDERIC ARNOLD.

